Old Grey Whistle Test (and subsequently Whistle Test) were essential viewing for anyone not wanting chart fodder thrust at them. Who can forget the classic performance by John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett in which Otway leapt onto the speaker stack, slipped with his legs either side of it and came crashing down, landing on his soft nether regions?
Every New Year there was a special review and highlights programme. Throughout the late 70s and early 80s our New Year party would stop whilst OGWT was broadcast, then resume after it.